Reading Comprehension Drawing Conclusions and Predictions 6

Question 1

Every year, migratory monarch butterflies travel thousands of miles from Canada to a small forest in Mexico.
Scientists have observed that when milkweed plants disappear along the migration route, the butterfly population at the Mexican forest decreases significantly.
Question: What conclusion is most supported?

Accepted Answer

Milkweed availability along the migration route is critical to monarch butterfly survival.

Answer

Monarch butterflies are finding a shorter route to Mexico.

Answer

The Mexican forest is growing too small to support the butterflies.

Answer

Butterflies prefer Canada's climate to Mexico's.

Question 2

A student submitted her science project two weeks early. Her teacher had always awarded bonus points to early submissions and praised thorough work. The student's project included extra experiments and a detailed bibliography. Question: What can be predicted about the student's grade?

Accepted Answer

The student will likely receive a high grade due to her thoroughness and early submission.

Answer

The teacher will penalize the student for submitting before the deadline.

Answer

The extra experiments will make the project too long to grade.

Answer

The bibliography will lower her grade because it is not required.

Question 3

In a manufacturing plant, machine A breaks down an average of once a week. The maintenance log shows it has not been serviced in six months. Machine B, serviced monthly, has had no breakdowns this year. Question: What prediction is most reasonable about machine A?

Accepted Answer

Machine A will likely break down again soon without maintenance.

Answer

Machine A will fix itself if left alone long enough.

Answer

Machine B will begin breaking down at the same rate as machine A.

Answer

Monthly servicing has no effect on machine performance.

Question 4

Coastal towns that installed early-warning systems for tsunamis were able to evacuate residents before the 2011 Pacific tsunami arrived. Towns without such systems suffered far greater loss of life. Question: What conclusion is best supported by this information?

Accepted Answer

Early-warning systems save lives by giving residents time to evacuate.

Answer

Tsunamis only affect towns that do not have early-warning systems.

Answer

All coastal towns already have adequate tsunami warning systems.

Answer

Evacuation is impossible once a tsunami is detected.

Question 5

A volunteer tutoring program pairs college students with struggling middle school readers. After one semester, participants improved their reading scores by an average of two grade levels, while non-participants showed no significant change. Question: What conclusion is best supported?

Accepted Answer

The tutoring program is effective at improving reading skills.

Answer

Middle school students naturally improve two grade levels per semester.

Answer

College students are not qualified to tutor younger students.

Answer

Reading scores improved because the tests became easier.

Question 6

A home inspector noted that the roof of a house had missing shingles, several cracks in the gutters, and water stains on the interior ceiling below the roof. Question: What conclusion is most reasonable?

Accepted Answer

Water is likely leaking through the damaged roof into the house.

Answer

The water stains were caused by a burst pipe inside the wall.

Answer

The missing shingles are purely cosmetic and not a structural concern.

Answer

The gutters cracked due to tree roots growing beneath the house.

Question 7

A city council reduced the public transit budget, cutting bus frequency from every 15 minutes to every 45 minutes. Within three months, ridership fell by 40% and complaints from commuters increased sharply. Question: What prediction is most reasonable if the reduced schedule continues?

Accepted Answer

Ridership will likely continue to decline as commuters seek alternative transportation.

Answer

Ridership will recover because commuters have no other options.

Answer

Complaints will stop once commuters adjust to the new schedule.

Answer

The city council will expand bus routes to compensate.